Texas Weather
If you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait
five minutes and it will change.
Region
All regions
Characteristics
Hot summer; lots of
sunshine
All regions
Rainfall increases west to
east
Rio Grande valley; north- Hotter temperatures
central Texas
Gulf Coast
Cooler summers; warmer
winters; higher humidity
Panhandle
Colder in winter; has
northers
West Texas
Cooler at higher
elevations year-round
Cause/Reason
Closeness of Texas to
equator
Warm, moist Gulf air in
East Texas
Warm, dry winds from
the west
Sea breezes off the Gulf of
Mexico
Cold winds from the
north
At higher elevations air is
thinner and absorbs less
heat
 Texas weather changes quickly and dramatically
 Climate – an area’s pattern of weather over a long period of
time, and is affected by location.
 Texas is much closer to the equator than to the North Pole
Temperature
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Texas is close to the equator, making it hotter than the
northern states…and more susceptible to heat and
drought.
Average temperatures are 30-100 degrees.
Humidity
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Texans that live along the Gulf Coast experience higher
humidity
Humidity = moisture in the air
It also causes temperatures to feel even hotter along the
Gulf Coast
Rainfall
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An area’s climate is also
determined by
precipitation = moisture of
falling rain, snow, sleet,
hail, or mist
• Rainfall is greater in
the east (due to
humidity), with lower
yearly averages as you
move west.
• Hill Country areas
flood quickly
Drought
 Drought = A long period of time without rain
 Rainfall is must less than average
 Can cause damage to farming and ranching
industries
Winds
 Winds from the north usually bring cooler
temperatures to Panhandle during winter
months
 Northers = cold fronts or air masses
 Temperatures drop in a matter of minutes when
a norther hits
 Have you ever experienced a norther??
Severe Weather
 Hurricanes, Tornados, Blizzards
 Hurricanes usually appear midsummer through early fall
 Huge storms usually develop in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf
of Mexico…High winds and tidal surges
 Hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast and quickly dissipate with rain
scattered across East and Central Texas
Severe Weather
 Tornados cause damage all across our state, but are
more frequent in West Texas, the Panhandle, and Central
Texas
 Blizzards = large snow storms
 brings high winds, ice, and snow
 Also, prevalent from the Panhandle down into North
Central Texas is hail, ice, and occasional snow
How do we adapt?
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Clothing
Higher AC bills in the summer
Cars with AC
Agriculture suited for varied climates
My Texas Weather Story
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You’re going to write a one page story
about your experience with Texas weather.
It can be extreme weather, like flood, hail,
or snow, or you can write about just a hot
day this past summer and how you dealt
with the heat.